'Grasping at straws'

Diddy's claims of evidence leak dismissed

NEW YORK:

US prosecutors rejected Sean "Diddy" Combs' accusation that government agents leaked evidence to undermine his defence against criminal sex trafficking charges and said the music mogul doesn't deserve a list of names of his accusers.

In a Wednesday night filing in federal court in Manhattan, prosecutors said Combs was "grasping at straws" in alleging that he has been victimised by leaks, including a 2016 hotel surveillance video of him physically assaulting former girlfriend Cassandra Ventura, known as Cassie.

Prosecutors said Combs could not show that any information was leaked from the grand jury investigating him, adding that Combs knows the "highly probative" video came from elsewhere.

They also called his demand for accusers' names a "thinly veiled" effort to hijack the government's case and help him defend publicly against the more than two dozen men and women pursuing civil lawsuits over his alleged sexual misconduct.

"This improper request should be denied in its entirety, particularly here, where there are serious and ongoing concerns of victim and witness safety, tampering, and intimidation," prosecutors said.Combs has pleaded not guilty to racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution, and has denied wrongdoing in the civil cases.

Prosecutors said he will receive significant amounts of evidence including a witness list as his May 5, 2025, criminal trial grows closer. A lawyer for Combs declined to comment on Thursday.

Combs' legal team has argued that the Bad Boy record label founder should not have to "play a guessing game" to defend against "baseless" claims in the civil lawsuits by accusers, many using pseudonyms, who seek big paydays.

In Wednesday's filing, prosecutors also said Combs' request for a gag order against witnesses and lawyers was moot. They cited an October 25 order by US District Judge Arun Subramanian demanding both sides' compliance with local court rules. Reuters